Mission

The Guilford Center for Children, Inc. is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to provide a safe, nurturing, and developmentally appropriate environment for young children who need out-of-home care during the day.

It is the philosophy of the Guilford Center for Children, Inc. Early Education Center to recognize the importance of a safe, positive, nurturning, and consistent atmosphere as the foundation for the social-emotional, physical, language, and cognitive development of each child. A curriculum that supports the standards set forth in the Connecticut Framework, Preschool Curricular Goals and Benchmarks is supported. The importance of fostering the development of self-awareness, self-expression, independence, and appropriate conflict resolution skills in each child is also recognized. The Guilford Center for Children, Inc. further acknowledges the importance of open and supportive relationships with the families of the children being served.

In the News!

• Guilford Center for Children Continues to Make Adjustments to Offer Childcare to Families
  The Guilford Center for Children (GCC), a non-profit that provides early education and before- and after-school care, has continued to adjust its schedule, and its licensing, to meet the needs of Guilford families throughout the fluctuating schedules due to the pandemic. Guilford schools started the year virtually but have since adjusted to a hybrid schedule. With students originally returning to school online, many families were scrambling to find childcare. GCC, which operates out of Guilford Public Schools but is not run by GPS, worked with the town and the schools to fill the need. Read more at zip06.com
• After-school program changes to full-day
  A move made to address child care gaps The Guilford Center for Children’s “before and after school” program might deserve a new name. In addition to running its usual early morning and mid-afternoon activities out of the town’s schools, the GCC this fall also is operating a full-day distance learning program out of the First Congregational Church and the town’s community center. The initiative, according to officials, was born out of a community effort and as a way to support families while the Guilford Public Schools operate under a hybrid model. It provides child care on days when students are… Read more: After-school program changes to full-day
• Guilford Center for Children Sees Success and Support for Preschool Summer Program
  While many schools are currently scrambling to put together reopening plans for the fall, attempting to absorb guidelines from the state while facing down continued uncertainty in the face of the continued ravages of the pandemic, the Guilford Center for Children (GCC) has been quietly operating for most of the summer, bringing grateful pre-school age children back to learning and social activities after three months of absence. With reduced class sizes, plenty of outdoor time, and enhanced safety precautions, GCC’s young students have adapted quickly and have been able to enjoy much of the socializing and learning that was so… Read more: Guilford Center for Children Sees Success and Support for Preschool Summer Program
• GCC Faculty Continues Teaching and Connecting, Despite Layoffs
  In mid-March, when the escalating coronavirus pandemic began shuttering schools across the state, Guilford Center for Children (GCC) teachers and staff were faced with the difficult prospect of losing income—and being unable to interact with their young students, missing out on those bonds and relationships that are especially vital for pre-school age children. Rather than let that happen, GCC staff have spent the last few weeks making sure they remain a presence in the lives of these students, putting together everything from individual lessons to entire websites in order to help maintain educational continuity through the closure. The parents, for… Read more: GCC Faculty Continues Teaching and Connecting, Despite Layoffs
• Preschoolers Make a Difference for GFL
  The Guilford Center for Children (GCC) Early Childhood Program, which focused on the theme of kindness for the month of May, set up a book donation box and undertook a classroom challenge to collect books to donate to the Guilford Free Library. The goal was for each of the 17 children to bring in one book they could give away. In one week, the students had collected more than 80 books from their home bookshelves, and on May 31, kids pulled two wagons filled with a grand total of 177 books down the road to the library. Library staff greeted… Read more: Preschoolers Make a Difference for GFL